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I can't see us signing Markanday, Myslovic and hailing the return of Roberts - all right sided players - and then playing Duk right wing. Also can't see Robson telling the media he sees Clarkson as a no.6 then playing him off the striker. Wouldn't be against trying Scales at left-back though with Coulson ahead of him.

A huge game now. Never mind Hearts, we are five points behind a now on-form Hibs, four behind St Mirren, and currently three behind sixth-placed Livingston who have a game in hand (against bottom of the table Dundee United). Losing to them is simply not an option. I would go four at the back. People talking about Scales as if he was a miss v Celtic but not sure he was. McCrorie at right-back, Mackenzie at left-back. If we are sticking with three at the back, then I'd actually keep Mackenzie in there and play Coulson and McCrorie ahead of Hayes and Kennedy. Robson has been trying to play Clarkson deep with Shinnie and Ramadani doing the dog work. Problem is, Ramadani needs dropped but there's a lack of similar players to replace him if you want to stick with that tactic. Barron isn't that type of player (possibly injured anyway on account he wasn't in yesterday's squad). Myslovic, are we playing him or is he another Polvara? He's an inverted winger. You could try him with Coulson on the other side in a midfield role. There's also Roberts and Markanday. This game will tell us more than the Celtic game if Robson has it in him to be Dons boss. It might also be his last if it doesn't go well.

We looked a really poor team today. Alarmingly poor. The way we constantly coughed up possession either from poor passes or being brushed off the ball was unforgivable. Rarely, if ever, did we actually put together a good passage of play, I'm struggling to think of one. The goals were soft, and we offered nothing at the other end except the two times Joe Hart nae two errors. We cannot cross the ball, no-one can beat their man. It's all so basic and shows just how badly they've been coached all season. Tactically the three at the back gave Celtic too much space in the first half although we did at least change the shape, even if by the time we did the horse had bolted, spent the day at the pub, and strolled back with a couple of fillies and stuck a do not disturb sign on the stable door. But I don't think there's a huge amount of criticism you can really give Robson for the 90 minutes. The mistakes from individuals weren't on him, and he had named pretty much the line-up you expected him to. But we didn't look fit (that's not on him), we looked slow (not on him). He picked Hayes because he thought he would offer more defensively and was rewarded by a really poor performance in return. Ramadani, lots of enthusiasm, but he's not Aberdeen standard I don't think. Shinnie was trying to run that midfield himself. Duk far too slow and ponderous. Clarkson really poor although at least he was always looking for the ball. To be fair to Robson, he corrected most of these mistakes as the game went on although he took too long to do them. At least he got there eventually, which is more than could be said for Goodwin. I don't see a new manager coming in before Livingston so it's a huge seven days for Robson. He has to identify the weaknesses, he has to make changes for Livingston, and by fuck do we need to win that.

Strachan would be a horrific choice of manager.

Gordon Strachan currently favourite with the bookies. Someone is at it and I can only applaud them for it.

Campbell in today's Daily Record saying he hopes his form at Stevenage might still earn him a new contract at Aberdeen. According to soccerbase, since his Aston Villa goal he's made just three very late substitute appearances. St the very least he needs to be starting games down there to be getting a new deal here. But, you know, if it's Robson who gets the job permanently he might be thinking he knows how to get the best out of Campbell.

Not that I want John Hughes at Aberdeen - but where is the "Hughes hates Aberdeen" stuff coming from? One memory I had of him was after the 2014 final, I waited outside the main stand to see the team come out with the trophy and Hughes came out first and was very gracious, congratulating everyone. I don't think he has it in him to hate anyone.

At those odds it'll still worth £2...

It be took me less than two hours to make Felipe Martins the fifth favourite for the job...

Filipe Martins is doing a sterling job with Casa Pia in the Portuguese league. Despite being minnows they are sixth in the table - just two points off a European place. I reckon if I were to message the bookies, ask for odds on him, place a bet on him, message a few pals and say I've heard whispers we've spoken to him and they should stick a cheeky fiver on him, then I could get him in the running for the Aberdeen job by this time tomorrow.

Excellent article here from Thomas Duncan. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64585496

Think we can safely assume McBookie have no idea who the next Aberdeen manager will be.

Behave you. Leanne's a good egg.

Falkirk 2-0 up on Darvel. Are you watching Jim Goodwin?

I'm fucking fed up of the Darvel love-in, so hope Falkirk take at least three off them tonight. However, Darvel v Ayr would be tasty. Some cup run for Ayr. They've played Pollock, Cove, Elgin and now the winner of Darvel/Falkirk. If only we had drawn an easy team like Da.....oh.

Well that's helpful. To be fair was he not originally a centre midfielder who has been converted into a centre half?

A 17 year old centre half would get ragdolled by 90% of the forwards in the Premiership. Jack Milne (who is a few years older at 20) is likely to be the next centre half to step up but we've sent him out on loan. He might get his chance next season.

Which youngsters do you have in mind? I'm all for giving youth a chance (McInnes sacking led to Ramsay & Mackenzie being introduced) but let's not forget we're in a four-way fight to finish fourth and qualify for Europe.

Right enough, it is a two-game ban for McCrorie In that case then maybe Mackenzie in for Scales being the only change if Robson sticks with three at the back. Although a back four with an extra man in midfield might not be too bad an idea. Problem is we're not blessed with natural full-backs, or at least ones able to defend.

Everyone is obviously scared to talk about this one! Hard to guess how we'll set up as Barry Robson - in his two spells as caretaker boss - is yet to manage a game away from home. With him very much under the microscope from the Football Monitoring Board (), does he just play it safe and try and avoid a hiding, or does he take a risk and try be adventurous knowing that a positive attacking performance would boost his case enormously. It'll actually be really intriguing to see and I'm looking forward to this one despite the horrible record v Celtic. Was hoping to go, but having to work now as the boss is off to Spain and we're short staffed. I suspect we'll stick closely to the formation that started v St Mirren and Motherwell. That would mean McCrorie into a back three. Personally I'd prefer him at RWB with Mackenzie in. Can't see any other changes - Coulson a good attacking option off the bench with Hayes likely to start for experience.

Looking increasing likely Robson will get the next three games:- Celtic away Livingston home Dundee United away The Livi & United games especially are huge - a defeat in either would be really damaging. A minimum of four points is a must, ideally six, and any more than that from the three games would definitely cement Robson until summer. After those three there's a two-week break due to the Scottish Cup, we play Hearts at home on the 18th, then there's another two week international break. So for Robson or any new manager coming in they'd have loads of time on the training ground, pick up the customary three points at home to Hearts, some more time to work at Cormack Park before launching into a big April and May. Have some concerns over Robson maybe being inexperienced, but quite happy to see what him & Agnew can do until summer if they can show something in these next three games, and the management "team" at least look more experienced than Glass/Russell, and arguably more than Goodwin/Sharp.

To be fair, Wilder welcomed the approach and spoke - either directly or indirectly through an agent - with the club, so there was some interest there. That all said, Sun reporting tonight he's pulled out of the race. Not a huge loss as I'd struggle to trust someone who spent £20m on Oli McBurnie.

Nipped over to Tynecastle to see Fiorentina when they played Hearts. Was disappointed with their away support (and Lazio's when they played Celtic). Neither hold a candle to the noise and colour generated by the Torino support at Pittodrie in 93. However, might be heading to the Coppa Italia final in May, which could have Fiorentina in it after Cremonese did them an almighty favour by knocking out Napoli and Roma.

Hayden Coulson has signed a new contract with Middlesbrough, so we can rule out a permanent deal for him. Edit: Beaten to it by Jute.